La Sandia Restaurant Review

: It’s glitzy, it’s noisy and it’s modern Mexicano. Richard Sandoval’s Northern Virginia eatery (he also owns DC’s Zengo) serves not an upscale rendition of classical Mexican fare or even an experimental take on Tex-Mex eats. The menu stays put in familiar territory: think nachos and shrimp quesadilla appetizers, and fajitas and chiles rellenos for entrées. Two offbeat dishes include the chicken mole, an updated version of the turkey-based original, and the pork carnitas, with the meat bathed in its own hot fat, and the sides of guacamole and beans forgettable. Perhaps the best bet is the queso fundido appetizer, a blend of three cheeses with the option of mushroom or chorizo add-ins. The margaritas are good, the caipirinhas not so.